“I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:1–5, ESV)
Don’t forget what Christmas is all about!I grew up with the same two narratives that most kids of my generation had in relation to Christmas. One involved the modern adaptation of the legend of St Nicholas of Myra, more popularly known in our culture as Santa Claus. I doubt that the real St Nicholas owned a sleigh or reindeer in 4th Century Turkey but I knew I could look forward to his magical appearance at my house (which had no chimney) every 25th of December.
The other narrative involved the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. In Sunday School we learned about how Mary and Joseph had traveled to Bethlehem, finding no room in the inn. We heard stories about mangers and swaddling clothes. My grandfather would read the “Christmas story” from Luke 2 year after year before we were allowed to tear into our gifts.
Of course, being from a good Christian family, I was often admonished to remember what Christmas is all about. It turns out this is good advice. I’m just not sure if simply lowering or replacing the Santa Claus narrative with the manger narrative quite captures the real reason why Christmas is worth the plays, pageants, parties, and presents that accompany the season.
The coming of God into the world as a human being changes everything. The entire Old Testament is filled with man’s failure. Sin is an ugly thing. It seems that sin nearly always won and often with horrific consequences. But God had set out to bring man back to what he was meant to be. So he made a covenant. With God’s own word as a guarantee it was as good as done, but it wasn’t reality yet. Those under the law were still enslaved by sin.
Yet, it wasn’t God’s plan to have a collection of slaves. We weren’t supposed to be children forever. He sent his own Son into the world as a human so that humans could be his sons and daughters. We have been adopted into his family. We are co-heirs with Jesus. The presence of the Spirit means that we are free and we can grow to maturity as sons and daughters of God.
It will take all of eternity to understand fully what Christmas is all about. We can’t fully grasp all that is different, all that is ours, because God entered the world in order to come for us.
Take some time to consider the following. Perhaps it would be helpful to record your responses in a journal.
What was life like for you before you met Jesus? How are you affected personally by the fact that he came?
Here is a prayer in response to today's text. You can pray this as your own or use it as a prompt for a spontaneous prayer.
Our God, we call you Father because it was your plan to have an entire race of sons and daughters. We are yours and have a relationship with you because of what you have done to make it so—even overcoming our own sin and rebellion by your love and mercy. On this day we have peace because of what is ours in Christ. We are also reminded of so many who do not know this peace--who have not recognized your love or been introduced to your mercy and grace. We thank you and praise you and offer our lives to you so that others might know the incredible things you have done for them as well.
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